Annie Hill Builds Back Up With Mile Win at Twilight Relays

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Annie Hill of Glacier MT feels like she’s getting back to her old self again following a victory in the elite invitational mile Friday at the Nike Jesuit Twilight Relays in Portland.

Hill, a senior and Colorado commit, sped away from Mountain View ID’s Lexy Halladay in the final 250 meters to win in 4:48.68. RESULTS

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“It was a great feeling,” Hill said. “I’ve had some downs recently in my running. If feels so good to have a good race and feel good about how I did and know I gave everything I had.”

Hill had an uneven cross country season last fall that included an iliotibial (IT) band injury and “working though some mentality issues.” She finished 17th at NXN Northwest after having won it the year before.

She finished 14th in the 3,200 meters April 7 at the 51st Arcadia Invitational.

Hill is a six-time Montana state champion in cross country and track. She is looking forward to competing in her usual five events at the Montana state meet – the 400, the 800, the 1,600, the 3,200 and the 4x400 relay. Her team has finished second at the state meet three years in a row.

In Portland, Hill was racing against the top two finishers of the 2017 elite mile, Taylor Roe of Lake Stevens WA and Halladay. All three of them were at Nike Elite Camp last summer.

“I love racing them and we’re pretty close,” Hill said. “After watching their race last year I was excited to be invited back (to Portland).”

Junior Daniel Maton of Camas won the boys elite mile in a PR of 4:08.13, good for US#1 this season. Maton is the younger brother of former sub-four high school miler Matthew Maton.

Alex Slenning of Wilson OR (4:09.64) and Joe Waskom of Mt. Si WA (4:09.84) also broke 4:10.

Micah Williams (10.61) of Benson OR and Aliyah Wilson of Tahoma WA (11.91) won the elite 100-meter dashes.

Wilson also led Tahoma to victories in the girls 4x100 and 4x200 relays.

Sawyer Christopher of Lincoln OR threw 206-8 to win the javelin.